Reagan looked at the Minister with a slightly quizzical look upon her face. "They? I assume you are referring to Doyle Branxton as part of that 'they', but who else? Do you mean Ms. Belle? I saw both of them on level three when you sent me down to retrieve Mr. Branxton. I informed Branxton of your request to see him immediately and he quite rudely refused to come back with me. Apparently there has been some sort of accident with his memory and he is working with the Department Head of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes to sort out the matter. In fact, I think you may need to have a word with the Department Head, Ms. Grau. She flat-out refused to be of assistance, implying that she was more important than you! Ms. Belle witnessed the whole thing and she, like myself, was incredibly shocked that they would refuse a direct order from the Minister of Magic so rudely! Mr. Branxton has agreed to come up to your office as soon as his memory is restored but has not yet arrived."

Reagan paused to look at her notes and then continued, "On a positive note, I've cleared the conference room for your lunch with Ms. Belle and made it more appropriate for such an occasion. I hope it is to your liking. If you would like to change anything before Ms. Belle's arrival, I will see that it is done promptly. Also, the food has been ordered and will be delivered very soon, just in time for your luncheon."

With another glance down to her notes, Reagan pressed on, "As for the liaison tasks and wedding plans, many liaisons have questions or are having difficulties with their corresponding department heads. Firstly, what color scheme would you like for the wedding? In order for the invitations to be chosen and made up and the linens and flowers to be selected, we need to know what two or three colors you and Ms. Belle would like to focus on. If you have any preferences for the flowers, it would be helpful to know as well. Also, we need more details for the invitations and scheduling purposes, such as a finalized date, Ms. Belle's full name, and any other pertinent information you'd like included in the invitations.

"On a slightly different matter, Brian Lee, the liaison to the Department of Magical Games and Sports is having some difficulty getting the Quidditch schedule rearranged, especially without a set date. He actually wanted to meet with you about it, but I told him you were extremely busy and that he needed to find a way to get it done. But it would likely be easier for him if he had some idea of what to tell the Department Head.

"And finally, Ms. Cloe Black is here with a very disturbing matter regarding Hogwarts, something that may need more immediate attention than going through the Department of Magical Education - a student's death. She's currently in the waiting area, so when should I schedule her for a meeting?"

Brennan tapped his fingers on the desk before speaking. "I want you to meet with Clara briefly before our lunch, because I'm obviously going to be delayed. You can use that time to talk with her about colors and flowers. Women make those decisions, you know. I'm to show up and bring a ring. You can talk to Clara about the date as well."

"As for Ms. Black, I'd like to speak with her immediately. I wish we could have gotten our hands on Branxton before they returned his memory. I find I'd rather like to rid myself of a brother-in-law and thorn in my side. Relocate him to Brazil, or something like that. Too late now, but keep your eyes open for an opportunity to discredit him and his wife." He purposefully didn't refer to her as his sister. "They weaken our position here, Taylor. If that was everything, please send that Cloe person in. I will draft a letter to Mr. Lee and Ms. Grau immediately, but I'll need to meet with them both sometime today. If Ms. Grau doesn't see fit to help me, then she might need to seek employment elsewhere."

Doyle knew exactly how irritating it would be for Cooper when he knocked on the Minister's door and stood waiting for him to bid Doyle enter. He did not feel up to this meeting but, at the same time, he was through pandering to someone he'd been competing with since Hogwarts.

"I'm done for now, Taylor. I need to speak to my dear friend Doyle Branxton," Brennan grinned cheerfully and leaned back in his chair. "Come in and have a seat, my friend. I've heard you had a rough day."

"So I've gathered," Doyle replied as he stepped into the office. He removed the handkerchief from his pocket before taking the offered seat and began cleaning his glasses. "You wanted to see me?"

Brennan waved his hand and the door shut. He loved that trick. "I think I would have preferred you continue to forget that you're married to my sister. I might even have felt some fondness for those... little darlings of hers. Imagine the image for the media. 'Young widow is abandoned yet again.' Popular opinion would have been on her side for months. Good for the whole family, you know."

"I don't know what you're blathering on about Cooper. I have an incredible headache and cannot quite recall everything that has occurred in the past... however many hours it has been since I woke up this morning," Doyle painfully admitted. "But, if you are trying to intimate that I should pretend that I am not married to Cassandra then you are even more daft than I thought."

"No, I'm trying to imply that I wish you hadn't been healed," he was still looking very pleased with himself. "I think it would have been good for all of us. You and Cassie would get your moments of fame, and Clara and I could have been the generous benefactors who comforted Cassie and took her beautiful children in to raise ourselves, and settled you with a nice promotion and pay raise. Maybe... department head? Too bad they fixed you."

"Ever the diplomat," Doyle dryly replied and then stood up. "If that is all, I have a wife and two children to go home to."

"Buy her something sparkly, old man. You're in big trouble."

"We should have these chats more often, Minister. You give such wonderful advice and truly inspiring pep talks," he responded in turn and moved toward the door, his hand close to his wand, just in case.

"Careful, Doyle," Brennan sat up and leaned against his desk. "You're still my employee, and I have a lot of influence over your wife's little school. It wouldn't harm you to tread a bit lightly when you're talking to me."

"I've tread carefully long enough, Cooper," he replied, turning back around to face his rival. "I'm through pandering to your ego and every whim. It is a shame that such a person as Cassandra could have a brother like you and I am sorry that our being brothers-in-law is difficult for the both of us. But, that is not something that is going to change. So, what are you going to do about it?"

"I'm going to keep winning out over you. I got the girl, I got the job... I have everything already, Doyle." He smirked at the man.

"You may have gotten Clara but, if this is who she would have turned out to be regardless of who got her, then I'm glad you won. Your sister is twice the woman Clara could ever hope to be. And you are welcome to the Minister's seat. I have a wife to come home to every evening and two delightful children. I would not give up my precious time with them to rot away behind a desk getting fat and soft whilst pushing paper around and giving an occasional speech."

Brennan actually glanced at the mirror on the wall to be sure he hadn't lost his hair or gotten soft around the middle in the moments they'd been talking. "You're only fooling her, old man. You couldn't have Clara, so you're punishing us all by marrying my baby sister. Idiot you... how disappointed you must have been to discover that we don't care a whit about her or who she marries?"

"Only you would be so self absorbed as to believe I'd marry your sister simply to try and defame your family. Perhaps that is the way you operate, Brennan Cooper but, that is not the way I do. Just because you stole Clara from me because you couldn't stand for anyone to be with me does not mean that I would do the same," Doyle said, losing his composure and barely able to contain his voice to a conversational volume. He knew the last wasn't true. It had been what he'd expected Cooper to spout when he'd had Vindictus slip him that cocktail but, that hadn't been what he'd said and they both knew it. "I would appreciate it if you would remember that I love your sister and did not marry her merely to irk you."

"And I'd appreciate it if you'd remember that I love Clara and always have. I did not steal her from you to spite you, although I enjoyed that side effect. I took what was already mine, just as I was already hers," his voice was low and a little dangerous. Nobody talked about Clara, and that was that.

"Does this mean we have an understanding between us?" Doyle asked with a raised eyebrow. If he could at least come to some terms with Cooper his life would be much easier. Merlin, did the man not see that he would much rather have stayed down in the Department of Mysteries, out of sight and out of mind of him rather than marry his sister and be forced to deal with him on a semi-regular basis?

"If by understanding you mean that I probably won't invite you over for Christmas and I would prefer you not attend my wedding with my sister... then yes," Brennan sat again, trying to look suave. "The girls will be flower girls, of course. The press eats that nonsense up." Or they would with the spin Clara would put on it.

"Cassandra and I have already decided not to attend Christmas celebrations with you again," Doyle replied in a tone of voice which indicated that Cooper should have known that already. "And what would the press about my my family attending your wedding without me? If you want the girls in your wedding then I will be required to be there."

Brennan laughed heartily. "Then keep the whole bloody lot home, Branxton. Honestly, you think the press gives a whit what you and your family are doing? Go home and take comfort in your small life."

"No, I suppose they don't care anything about the Headmistress' family. Afterall, the Minister has the leader of the press in his backpocket. But, it is not fame nor fortune that I am after. So, I am headed home to my comfortable life where I need not worry about my appearance every waking hour of the day," Doyle replied and turned on his heel.

"Boring life," Brennan chuckled again. "Ah, Doyle? You'll need an appointment should you want to chat with me again," he called after the man's back. "I'm just a bit too busy and important to meander with old friends." That should stop the wagging of any tongues in the outer office.

"Of course and should you need me again, just order me about as usual, Cooper," Doyle said, not even bothering to turn around to address him. He waved at him over his shoulder as he stepped out of the office.